Document-actuated device for effectively delaying a switching interval



Aug. 18, 1953 J. F. EGAN DOCUMENT-ACTUATED DEVICE FOR EFFECTIVELY DELAYING A SWITCHING INTERVAL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 1, 1951 JOHN F. EGAN INVENTOR. by

5 ATTY, AGT,

Aug. 18, 1953 J. F. EGAN DOCUMENT-ACTUATED DEVICE FOR EFFECTIVELY DELAYING A SWITCHING INTERVAL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 1, 1951 JOHN F. EGAN" INVENTOR W i. 01 BY 115V. A.C.

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ATTY AGT Patented Aug. 18, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DOCUMENT-ACTUATED DEVICE FOR EF- FEC'IIVELY DELAYING A. SWITCHmG I TERVA John F. Egan, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, N. Y., a cor- This invention relates to a devise for effectively delaying a switching interval and more particularly to a device for increasing the time-off or time-on interval of a switch means as used in the circuit of an electromagnetic coun r for Obtaining more accurate actuation of the counter and, hence, a perfect count of thedocuments being moved past said device.

Heretofore, documents have been counted as they are moved through photographic copying apparatus by a trip finger which was located in the document path and which through a linkage actuated a mechanical counter or a switch in the circuit of an electromagnetic counter. As the leading edge of the document engaged the trip finger, the linkage was immediately actuated to operate the counter. With this arrangement, the

documents were not fed close together and the conveyor speed was relatively slow. With the introduction of automatic feeders to obtain a feeding speed as nearly as possible equal to the photographing speed, the speed of the conveyor has been increased and the space between successive documents has been greatly reduced, thereby minimizing the space between document images on the film and conserving film. Asa result, the space between successive documents is very small so that it becomes difiicult or impossible to have suificient reset time for the counter with the result that the counter was not being actuated by every document being moved past said finger. In many instances where spacings between documents were of the order of inch, the trip finger would actuate thecounter to count only the first or first and last document. Inasmuch as an electromagnetic type counter needs to be energized and deenergized for each count, it was found that small spacings between documents resulted in only a single count being made until a sufiiciently large spacing was found between any two documents.

To overcome these disadvantages and to provide means whereby an accurate count of documents can be made, the trip or actuating finger is mounted for movement with the document, for movement in a direction opposed to that of the document and for movement substantially 1 .01- mal to the document plane. With this arrangement, the finger is capable of moving into the space between successive documents irrespective of the spacing therebetween so that the electromagnetic counter is always deenergized between documents. As is well-known in the electrical field, a solenoid or relay is not immediately responsive to deenergization. Accordingly, the

time-off interval must be of sufiicient duration to insure complete deenergization of the counter solenoid. This is accomplished in the present invention by moving a pivotally mounted finger with the document until the end of the finger engages the top surface of the document, then moving said finger in a reverse direction and over the surface of the document to a position in which the finger switches the contacts. Since the finger normally extends below the document plane and is pivotally mounted, the movement of the finger by the document is independent of any switching movement but when moved in a reverse direction, the finger is moved both horizontally and vertically to the switching position. The switching is therefore delayed, the delay interval being measured by the time during which the finger is moved by the document plus the time during which the finger is moved in a reverse direction to the point at which the contacts are switched, at high document speeds the second time being of such length as to permit a considerable document movement. The delay interval may also include the space between successive documents when such documents are fed successively as with an automatic feeder.

The primary object of the invention, therefore, is to provide a sheet-actuated device in which the switching interval of an electric counter is eifectively delayed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a document-actuated device for photographic copying apparatus in which a counter switching finger is moved by the document in one direction and moved over the document by a resilient means in the other direction to the switching position so that said movement of said finger provides an effectively delayed switching interval.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a document-actuated device for photographic copying apparatus in which a switch actuating lever carries a document-actuated lever which is pivotally mounted thereon, the document-actuated lever being moved in one direction by the document independent of the switching lever and in the other direction over the document to a point where it moves the switch-actuating lever to a switching position so that the combined movements of the document-actuated lever provide an effectively delayed switching interval.

These and other objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art by the description which follows.

Reference is now made 'to the accompanying ,a suitable receptacle.

drum. A plurality of annular recesses i l spaced axially of drum 13.

3 drawings wherein like reference numerals designate like parts and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the documentactuated device as used in relation to a conveyor drum of the type used for moving a document through the photographic field in a photographic copying apparatus and showing the finger in its normal position and in the space between succesactuated device;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the device similar to Fig. 1 and showing said device as used in an application where the document is moved in a fiat plane; and

Fig. 6 is a simple wiring diagram and showing a switch and counter .connected in series circuit.

In the following description and the claims, the term document refers to checks, letters, ledger cards, time cards, etc., and in its broadest sense may be applied to any sheet material which is capable of being moved or conveyed in an arcuate or fiat path.

Referring now to the drawings, the documents D", as is well-known in the art, are directed from a feeding station to drum l3, which is continuously rotated by a means not shown. Drum It moves the document under guide plate H, through the photographic station I 2 and into Rollers I3, only one of which is shown, may be spaced peripherally of drum H) to hold the document against said are The switch means comprises a switch H, which may be of the microswitch type, mounted on plate l8 by screws l9. Switch ll, as disclosed in the drawings, is of the normally-open type, the contacts 23 and 2| being switched to a closed position by lever 22 which is pivotally mounted at 23 to the switch body. Plate l8 comprises a mounting face 24, a portion 25 formed at right angles to said face, a lug 26 also formed at right angles to said face and displaced from portion 25, as shown in Fig. 1, and a guide lug 2! formed at right angles to portion 25. The coil spring 28 biases lever 22 into a normal position with 'contacts 23 and 2| in the open position.

A second lever 32 is provided at its enlarged end 33 with a horizontal slot 34 which is adapted to receive end 35 of lever 22 and at the enlarged portion 36 adjacent end 3?! with a vertical slot 33 which is adapted to receive guide lug 2?. Slot 34 is sufficiently wide to permit lever 32 to pivot about lever 22 and slot 38 is sufficiently long to permit lever 32 to move along lug 21 as it is pivoted and to be moved vertically with respect when said lever is in its normal position to per- 4 mit said lever to move freely in a vertical direction when adjacent portion 25.

Since lever 3'! is pivotally mounted on end 35 of lever 22, spring 28 also serves to bias lever 32 in the same direction, that is, to urge end 31 into recess I! so that it is in the path of document D. Spring 40, as shown in Fig. 1, maintains lever 32 against portion 25 which also limits or positions lever 32 in its first or normal position in which it is in the document path. As. the leading edge LE of document D strikes end 31 of lever 32, lever 32 is moved thereby against .the action of spring 43, the force of spring '43 not beingsufiicient to hinder movement ofthe document by drum l0. Lever 32 is, therefore, pivoted about end 35 of lever 22,

"being held-against edge 29 by spring 20, and is moved independently of lever 22. End 3'! is moved through an arcuate path by the document until the document moves end 3? into engagement with the surface of the document, as shown in Fig. 2, or in other words, document D is moved under end 31. During this movement of lever 32, spring 40 is compressed and once the end 31 is free of the force exerted thereon by the moving document, spring no returns lever 32 to its first position. However, since the document overlies recess M and is under end 31, end 3'! cannot enter the recess so that spring 40 moves end 31 over the surface of the document to its first position, the lever 32 being moved in a reverse direction with respect to the moving document. As lever 32 is moved in a reverse direction by spring 40, lever 22 is moved therewith so that by the time lever 32 has been moved to its first or normal position, lever 22 has been moved by lever 32 to a position for switching contacts 22 and 2|, as shown in Fig. 3. The levers 32 and 22 are maintained in this switching position by document D because the document covers recess M and prevents levers 32 and 22 from being returned to their original normal positions until the trailing edge TE has been moved past end 31. Once the trailing edge TE is past end 31, levers 32 and 22 are urged into their respective normal positions by spring 28, lever 32being free to move vertically downward bef'cau se of shoulder 44, and contacts 20 and 2| are parted to break the circuit. In the event that contacts-20 "and 2| 'are made before lever 32 reaches its first position, end 35 is fiexed by lever 32 about lug 26 to allow a small amount of overtravel.

From the foregoing description, it can be readily appreciated that when successive documents are fed onto drum Hi, the contacts 20 and 2| are not switched as soon as the leading edge LE strikes the end 31 of lever 32 but that the switching takes place only after a certain portion of the document has been moved past the normal position assumed by lever 32. Where thefitime-ofi interval was formerly determined by the'sp'ace'between successive documents and 'time-on interval determined by the length of the document, in the present invention the time-off interval includes the space between successive documents and a portion of the document length and the time-on interval is determined by the remaining length of the document. In other words, the delay interval is determined or measured by the time during which lever 32 is moved with the document plus the time during which lever 32 is moved in a reverse direction to the point at which the contacts 20 and 2| are switched.

In Fig. the document is shown as bein moved in a straight path rather than an arcuate path as disclosed in Figs. 1-3. The document may be moved by conveyor belts past finger 45 and supported between plates 46 and i! at said finger. In this embodiment the switching of contacts 29 and 2! is accomplished in the same manner as described hereinbefore, the lever 32 being moved by the leading edge LE of the document independently of lever 22 until end 3? engages the surface of the document and then being moved in a reverse direction and Over the surface of the document by spring 40, to a position in which lever 22 actuates contacts 2%) and 2| to a switching position.

While the disclosed embodiments are directed to the closing of contacts 20 and 2! to complete the circuit through the electromagnetic counter 55, as shown in Fig. 6, the same device may be utilized for opening a pair of contacts by rearrangement of said contacts and said levers. Also, in instances where the document or sheet is conveyed between a plurality of endless belts, a recessed wheel can be used at a position Where the direction of movement is changed so that, in eifect, the recessed wheel functions in the same manner as drum Iii. Since other modifications of the invention may be suggested to those skilled in the art, the scope of the invention is pointed out in the appended claims.

Having now particularly described my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States and what I claim is:

l. A document-actuated device for effectively delaying the switching interval of a switch means comprising an actuating finger, means for moving spaced documents past said finger, resilient means for maintaining said finger in the path of the documents, said finger being mounted for movement by the leading edge of a document to a position in which said finger engages the surface of the document, and contacts controlled by said finger and adapted to be switched thereby upon movement of said finger over the surface of the document, the delay interval being measured by the time during which the finger travels with the document plus the time during which the finger is moved over the surface of said document by said resilient means and in an opposite direction with respect to the document to switch said contacts.

2. A document-actuated device for efiectively delaying the switching interval of a switch means comprising an actuating finger having a free end extending below the plane of document movement and adapted to be moved between a normal position and a switching position, means for pivotally mounting said finger, spring means for biasing said finger into said normal position, and resilient means for maintaining said free end against the leading edge of the document, said finger being moved by the leading edge of the document to a position in which said free end engages the top surface of said document and moved by said resilient means in a reverse direction with respect to said document and over the surface thereof to said switching position, the document holding said finger in said switching position until the trailing edge of the document has been moved past said free end, and the delay interval being measured by the time during which said finger travels with the document p the time during which said finger is moved in an opposite direction to move said finger into said switching position.

3. A document-actuated device for effectively delaying the switching interval of a switch means comprising an actuating finger having a pivot point and a free end extending below the plane of document movement and adapted to be moved between a normal position and a switching position, means for moving spaced documents past said finger, spring means for biasing said finge into said normal position, and resilient means for maintaining said free end against the leadin edge of the document, said finger being moved by the leading edge of the document to a position in which said free end engages the surface of said document and moved by said resilient means in a reverse direction with respect to said document and over the surface thereof to said w tchin position, the document holding said finger in said switching position until the trailing edge of the document has been moved past said free end, and contacts controlled by said finger and adapted to be switched thereby upon movement of said finger over the surface of said document, the delay interval being measured by the time during which said finger travels with the document plus the time during which said finger is moved in an opposite direction to move said finger into said switching position.

4. A document-actuated device for eifectively delaying the switching interval of a switch means comprising a lever having a pivot point and adapted to be moved between a normal position and switching position, a spring means for biasing said lever into said normal position, a second lever operatively connected to said first lever and biased by said spring means in a direction normal to a moving document and adapted to be moved between a position for engaging the leading edge of said document and a position in which the end of said second lever engages the surface of said document, and resilient means for biasin said second lever into said first-mentioned position, for maintaining said second lever in engagement with the leading edge of said document, and for moving said second lever in a direction opposed to the movement of said document and over the surface thereof to said first-mentioned position during which reverse movement said first lever is moved to said switching position, the delay interval being measured by the time during which said second lever is moved by said document and the reverse movement of said second lever over the surface of said document to the point at which said first lever is moved by the document to said switching position.

5. A document-actuated device for effectively delaying the switching interval of a switch means comprising a lever having a pivot point and adapted to be moved between a normal position and a switching position, a spring means for biasing said lever into said normal position, a second lever pivotally mounted on an arm of said first lever, arranged substantially perpendicular thereto and biased by said spring means in a direction substantially normal to a moving document and into the path thereof and adapted to be moved between a first position and a second position by the leading edge of the document in which said second lever engages the surface of the document and between said second position and said first position in which the document maintains said second lever in a position for holding said first lever in said switch ing position until the trailing edge of the document has been moved past said second lever, guide means for engaging said second lever and for limiting movement thereof in one direction, and resilient means for biasing said second lever into said first position, for maintaining said second lever in engagement with the leading edge of the document upon movement thereof from said first position to said second position, and for moving said second lever over the surface of the document from said second position to said first position during which movement said first lever is moved by said second lever to said switching position, the delay interval being measured by the time of travel of said second lever with the document plus the time of travel of said second lever in an opposite direction to the point at which said first lever is moved by the document to said switching position.

6. A document-actuated device for eifectively delaying the switching interval of a switch means comprising a lever having a pivot point and adapted to be moved between a normal position and a switching position, a second lever pivotally mounted on an arm of said first lever and adapted to be oscillated thereon between a position in which the leading edge of a moving document engages said second lever and a position in which the end of said second lever engages the surface of said document, spring means for biasing said first lever into said normal position and for urging an end of said second lever into the space between successive documents, and resilient means for maintaining said second lever in engagement with said leading edge, said second lever being engaged and moved by said leading edge from said first-mentioned position to said second-mentioned position and moved by said resilient means in a reverse direction with respect to said moving document and over the surface thereof for moving said first lever to said switching position, the delay interval being measured by the time of movement of said second lever by said document plus the time of reverse movement of said second lever to the point at which said first lever is moved thereby to said switching position.

JOHN F. EGAN.

No references cited. 

